Thaba Chweu local municipality’s continual violation of residents’ constitutional rights to access water must stop

The right of access to sufficient water is accorded to everyone in Section 27(1)(b) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, which states that everyone has the right to have access to sufficient water.

As a basic human right, provided for and protected under the Constitution, access to water must be respected, promoted and fulfilled by the State.

Continuous water shortages in the Thaba Chweu Local Municipality is not properly addressed or resolved by the municipality.

• Residential areas are without water-supply for consecutive days;
• Water leaks are not repaired within a reasonable time span (often taking up to months to be repaired and resulting in thousands of litres of potable water being wasted);
• Water tankers are not being despatched to areas without water.
• Insufficient information is supplied by Thaba Chweu Local Municipality to residents, on the reasons or expected duration of interruption of water-supply.

Hence, the DA calls for this matter be referred to:

1. The Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation for investigation;
2. The South African Human Rights Commission to investigate the continued abuse of human rights by the Thaba Chweu Local Municipality.
3. The provincial Portfolio Committee on COGTA and Human Settlements for investigation
4. And the (NCOP) Select Committee on COGTA, Water and Sanitation and Human Settlements for investigation